A transducer system comprises a first frequency steered transducer array element and a second frequency steered transducer array element that is spaced apart from the first frequency steered transducer array element. The system additionally includes a processing element in communication with the first and second frequency steered transducer array elements. The processing element is configured to receive a first receive electronic signal from the first frequency steered sonar array element, receive a second receive electronic signal from the second frequency steered array sonar element, compare a difference in amplitude between the first receive electronic signal and the second receive electronic signal to determine a cross-track position of an underwater target, and control a display to present an indication of the cross-track position of the underwater target.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the cross-track position of each underwater target indicates whether the target is to the left or right of a pointing axis of the system.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein each underwater target is colored a first color if determined to be to the left of the pointing axis and colored a second color if determined to be to the right of the pointing axis.
5. The system of claim 1, further including a user interface in communication with the processing element, wherein the user interface enables a user to select one of the plurality of underwater targets.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing element is further configured to generate a motor control signal based on the determined cross-track position of each underwater target, the motor control signal being usable by a motor to physically position one or more of the transducer array elements to track one of the plurality of underwater targets.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second transducer array elements are arranged in a co-axial configuration such than an array face of the first transducer array element is rotated with respect to an array face of the second transducer array element.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing element is configured to automatically identify each underwater target.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency steered transducer array element and the second frequency steered transducer array element are each arranged in a fan-shaped configuration.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first underwater target is a fish and the second underwater target is a fishing lure.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second transducer array elements are arranged in a co-axial configuration such than an array face of the first transducer array element is rotated with respect to an array face of the second transducer array element.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing element is configured to automatically identify each underwater target and present an indication of the identification on the display.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first frequency steered transducer array element and the second frequency steered transducer array element are each arranged in a fan-shaped configuration.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the motor control signal is a trolling motor control signal.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first underwater target is a fish and the second underwater target is a fishing lure.
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February 11, 2020
December 27, 2022
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